Jason Ward

Jason Robert Ward (born January 16, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He has played 336 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He was born in Chapleau, Ontario.

Playing career Ward was drafted 11th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1997 NHL entry draft. He played 186 career NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings, scoring 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points. When he was traded to the Kings, the deal sent agitator Sean Avery to the Rangers providing them boost for a playoff push. On February 27, 2007, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2007 NHL entry draft, making the third time he was traded during the 2006–07 season. He scored his first Lightning goal in his debut with the team.

After completing the 2009–10 season in the American Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, Ward was unable to garner a new NHL contract for the following 2010–11 season. In order to maintain game shape, Ward voluntarily took on a position as an assistant coach for the major junior team Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League while on the lookout for a new contract. On November 15, 2010, Ward signed a one-year contract and played his last professional season with Austrian team EHC Black Wings Linz of the EBEL.

Ward has the distinction of scoring his first NHL goal, in his first NHL game, on his first NHL shot, all three milestones coming at Madison Square Garden against Mike Richter and the New York Rangers on December 3, 1999.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1994–95 Oshawa Legionaires MetJHL 47 30 31 61 75 — — — — — 1995–96 Niagara Falls Thunder OHL 64 15 35 50 139 10 6 4 10 23 1996–97 Erie Otters OHL 58 25 39 64 137 5 1 2 3 2 1997–98 Erie Otters OHL 21 7 9 16 42 — — — — — 1997–98 Windsor Spitfires OHL 26 19 27 46 34 — — — — — 1997–98 Fredericton Canadiens AHL 7 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 1998–99 Windsor Spitfires OHL 12 8 11 19 25 — — — — — 1998–99 Plymouth Whalers OHL 23 14 13 27 28 11 6 8 14 2 1998–99 Fredericton Canadiens AHL — — — — — 10 4 2 6 22 1999–00 Montreal Canadiens NHL 32 2 1 3 10 — — — — — 1999–00 Québec Citadelles AHL 40 14 12 26 30 3 2 1 3 4 2000–01 Montreal Canadiens NHL 12 0 0 0 12 — — — — — 2000–01 Québec Citadelles AHL 23 7 12 19 69 — — — — — 2001–02 Québec Citadelles AHL 78 24 33 57 128 3 0 0 0 2 2002–03 Montreal Canadiens NHL 8 3 2 5 0 — — — — — 2002–03 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 69 31 41 72 78 23 12 9 21 20 2003–04 Montreal Canadiens NHL 53 5 7 12 21 5 0 2 2 2 2003–04 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 2 0 3 3 17 — — — — — 2004–05 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 77 20 34 54 66 4 2 1 3 2 2005–06 New York Rangers NHL 81 10 18 28 44 1 0 0 0 2 2006–07 New York Rangers NHL 46 4 6 10 26 — — — — — 2006–07 Los Angeles Kings NHL 7 0 1 1 4 — — — — — 2006–07 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 17 4 4 8 10 6 0 1 1 6 2007–08 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 79 8 6 14 42 — — — — — 2008–09 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2008–09 Norfolk Admirals AHL 21 2 7 9 16 — — — — — 2009–10 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 56 12 17 29 30 — — — — — 2010–11 EHC Linz AUT 35 9 10 19 50 5 0 1 1 26 2013–14 Dundas Real McCoys ACH 5 3 5 8 0 8 4 6 10 4 2013–14 Dundas Real McCoys AC — — — — — 4 1 5 6 12 2015–16 Hamilton Steelhawks ACH 7 1 2 3 2 — — — — — AHL totals 373 111 159 270 436 44 20 13 33 52 NHL totals 336 36 45 81 171 12 0 3 3 10

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1998 Canada WJC 7 1 0 1 2 1999 Canada WJC 7 1 1 2 8 Junior totals 14 2 1 3 10